[♪♪] >> Bill: HUGE ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS WEEK THAT WILL HAVE IMPACT IN THE HARRODSBURG AND PADUCAH AREAS.

THE FANCY FARM POLITICAL SPEAKINGS BRING SHARPER FOCUS TO THE 2026 KENTUCKY U.S. SENATE RACE.

DID FANCY FARM GIVE CLUES WILL THE GOVERNOR'S RACE?

KENTUCKY JOINS A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR FREEZING MONEY FOR EV CHARGING STATIONS.

♪MT NT K.LS START RGI A GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE, MCKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

SYLVIA GOODMAN, CAPITAL REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

AND LAURA CULLEN GLASSCOCK, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF THE KENTUCKY GAZETTE.

WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS THIS EVENING INCLUDING A BREAKDOWN OF FANCY FARM.

BUT FIRST, TWO MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS WEEK THAT SHOULD BE BOOSTS FOR KENTUCKY.

APPLE'S C.E.O.

TIM COOK AND PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED THAT ALL GLASS FOR FUTURE iPHONES AND APPLE WATCHES WILL BE MADE IN HARRODSBURG, KENTUCKY.

>> THE GREAT PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY YOU WILL FIND IT A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS TO.

IT IS FANTASTIC.

WE ARE DOING THINGS NOW IN THE UNITED STATES INSTEAD OF OTHER COUNTRIES FAR AWAY COUNTRIES.

>> WE DON'T KNOW THE JOB TOTAL YET.

THE RELEASE SAID IT WOULD HAVE 50% TO THE MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING JOBS.

THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 400 EMPLOYEES.

WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 50% OR A SMALLER SUBSET BUT EVERY JOB IS IMPORTANT AND THIS IS A HUGE INVESTMENT WHICH MEANS THE GLASS ON EVERY iPHONE OR EVERY IPHONE IN THE WORLD IS GOING TO BE MADE IN KENTUCKY.

RRSBGHA H SE GD$5 HISTORY FOR AT THAT TIME COMMUNITY.

>> IT DOES.

IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONGTIME.

THE GORILLA GLASS THAT WAS BEEN MADE SINCE 2007 AND AS GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THERE ARE 400 PEOPLE EMPLOYED AND THE GLASS IS USED NOT ONLY ON iPHONES BUT PHONES MADE BY OTHER COMPANIES MOTOROLA AND SAMSUNG AND USED ON LAPTOPS AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S A NICE EXPANSION PROBABLY SEE A COUPLE HUNDRED MORE JOBS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.

>> Bill: WILL INCREASE THEIR PRESENCE THERE QUITE OBVIOUSLY.

McKENNA, THE POLITICAL SET RESPONDED TO THIS QUICKLY.

RIGHT?

AND MAYBE PREDICTABLY WE MIGHT SAY?

>> WE DID HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF AND THE GOVERNOR.

SO WE HEARD SOME TALK ON BOTH SIDES DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS BUT MOST NOTABLY WITH THE SENATE PRIMARY COMING UP FOR THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WE SAW ALL THREE CANDIDATES MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THIS AND THANKING TRUMP FOR BRINGING THESE JOBS BACK TO KENTUCKY WHICH IS INTERESTING GIVEN THEY ARE ALL STILL LOOKING FOR THAT KEY ENDORSEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT AS WELL AS THEY HEAD INTO THE PRIMARY NEXT YEAR.

AND THEY ALL MADE CASES IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

CAMERON THANKED IT CALLING IT A WIN FOR KENTUCKY WORKERS.

THANKS TO AMERICA FIRST POLICIES.

BARR AS A CONGRESSMAN WENT ABOUT IT MORE DIFFERENTLY AND THIS IS IN HIS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND HE CREDITED THE DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING INCENTIVES IN THAT G.O.P.

SPENDING BILL WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT PASSED.

AND SAID THAT WAS AN INCENTIVE FOR THIS.

AND MORRIS TOOK A SWIPE AT HIS OPPONENTS SAYING THAT HE WARNED KENTUCKIANS TO NOT LET ANYONE ELSE TAKE CREDIT FOR THE TRUMPS, ANYONE ELSE BUT TRUMP.

>> Bill: DOES IT TAKE SOME OF THE HEAT OFF OF THE TARIFF ISSUE IN KENTUCKY.

THE BOURBON INDUSTRY AND OTHER BUSINESSES HAVE INDICATED AT THAT TIME THEY HAVE A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.

WHEN YOU GET THIS ANNOUNCEMENT THAT IS POSITIVE, DOES THAT HELP THE REPUBLICAN CASE?

>> I DEFINITELY THINK SO.

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS WE'VE HEARD TALK AND SEEN HEADLINES ABOUT THE TARIFFS AND ECONOMIC POLICIES PARTICULARLY FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP.

BUT THIS IS A PRETTY EASY WIN FOR REPUBLICANS.

AND WE'RE SEEING IT CELEBRATED BY BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

>> Bill: AND THERE WAS ANOTHER MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCE THE THIS WEEK IN KENTUCKY.

GENERAL MATTER IS INVESTING $1.5 BILLION FOR A URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY IN PAD DA.

AND LAURA PAD PADUCAH'S FOLKS THAT INVESTORS LOOKED AT A THOUSAND LOCATIONS IN 11 STATES BEFORE DECIDING ON WESTERN KENTUCKY.

WAS IT THE FACT THAT PADUCAH HAS THAT HISTORY WITH THE DIFFUSION PLANT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN WHAT CAUSED THEM TO WIN?

>> I WOULD THINK SO.

THE GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT WAS BUILT IN THE 1950s TO ENRICH USE RAINIAN FOR THE MILITARY AND IT SEEMS SOMETHING LOGICAL FOR THE START UP TO BUILD THERE WHEN THERE'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

I DID AN INTERVIEW WITH Dr. RODNEY ANDREWS WITH THE CENTER FOR APPLIES RESEARCH AT U.K. AND HE SAID THERE ARE 7600 RODS -- LET ME CLARIFY THAT.

THERE IS A LOT OF URANIUM ON-SITE LEFTOVER FROM THE MILITARY SHUT DOWN IN 2013 AND IT'S 7600 CYLINDERS OF OUR RAIN YUM!

ON-SITE.

FOR THIS COMPANY TO ENRICH AT THAT TIME THAT MAKES SENSE.

I THINK THAT REASON TOO WILL BE THE VANGUARD OF NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT FOR THE STATE.

WE SAW SOME LAWS IN THE PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT ARE MAKING IT EASIER TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR ENERGY.

THE MORATORIUM CAME OFF THE ENERGY NUCLEAR ENERGY IN 2017.

SO I THINK THIS IS REALLY A START OF A LOT OF THAT DEVELOPMENT.

AND THERE ALSO IS U.K. IS DOING RESEARCH, TOO, AND OVERSEES A $40 MILLION GRANT FUND FOR NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT.

>> AND I ALSO THINK THERE'S THE SHIFT RIGHT NOW IN KENTUCKY TO WE ARE NOT JUST A COAL STATE NOT JUST NATURAL GAS WE'RE TRYING TO BE ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY EXCEPT FOR SOLAR.

THE LEGISLATURE LAURA MENTIONED SOME OF THE EFFORTS TO PASS BILLS TO EMPHASIZE THESE DIFFERENT ENERGY PROMISES.

AND I THINK THIS IS PART OF THAT APPROACH FIXIATION ON KENTUCKY AS AN ENERGY STATE WE CAN BE AN EXPORTER OF ENERGY AGAIN.

>> Bill: SOLAR FARMS ARE OUT THERE, TOO.

>> I WAS GOING TO ADD, TOO, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO ADD 140 JOBS BUT THE ENRICHMENT WILL NOT START UNTIL THE 2030s.

>> TO THE LARGER QUESTION ABOUT ENERGY AND WE ARE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF ENERGY IN KENTUCKY MAYBE THERE'S SOME THAT CAN BE EXPORTED TO OTHER THE GRID OR OTHER STATES.

BUT AS WE HAVE THE DATA CENTERS AND OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT WILL NEED A LOT OF ENERGY, IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY AN ALL OF THE ABOVE.

THE NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY IS INTERESTING, I THINK.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE CALLED SMALL MODULAR UNITS INSTEAD OF BIG POWER PLANTS.

THE SMALL REACTORS CAN FIT IN PLACES MORE EASILY.

AND ONE THING FOLKS ARE LOOKING AT IS TAKING SOME OF THESE PLANTS THAT HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN COAL-FIRED PLANTS THAT HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN HERE IN KENTUCKY AND SEEING IF THEY CAN BE RETROFITTED TO ACCOMMODATE THE SMR'S TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR ENERGY FOR THE DATA CENTERS THAT ARE COMING IN ALL THE NEW PLFERRING WE'RE -- MANUFACTURING WE'RE GETTING SOMETHING HAS TO POWER THIS.

THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S IN THE MIX BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE FAST TRACKED.

>> Bill: GOVERNOR BESHEAR HE TEASED OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS OF EXPANSIONS OF EXISTING BUSINESSES.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT MAYBE?

>> WE DO NOT AT THIS POINT BUT IT IS NOT SURPRISING TO SEE BESHEAR DO THIS.

THIS IS SOMETHING HE HAS DONE THROUGHOUT HIS TERM AS HE HIGHLIGHTS ECONOMIC WINS IN KENTUCKY.

AS HE'S LEADING THE STATE.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF BENEFIT FROM THAT.

IT HIGHLIGHTS KENTUCKY AS A PLACE THAT'S GREAT TO DO BUSINESS.

A LOT OF THESE NEWS THIS WEEK IS INSPIRING SOME OTHER DEVELOPERS AS WELL.

>> Bill: DOES MOMENTUM BRING MOMENTUM WHEN IT COMES TO JOBS AND PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENTS?

>> THAT IS THE THEORY THEY TALK ABOUT THE SITE DEVELOPMENT EFFORT, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND THE IDEA IS IF YOU REALLY BOOST THAT AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE SUCCESSES THEN IT COULD DRAW OTHER COMPANIES.

I THINK THAT IS THE THING THAT BESHEAR RAN ON AS GOVERNOR AND SPOKE TO KENTUCKIANS IF WE KEEP TALKING UP THE STATE MORE PEOPLE WILL WANT TO COME TO THE STATE.

NOT JUST BUSINESSES BUT PEOPLE.

>> Bill: FANCY FARM THE PICNIC WERE LAST WEEK AND IT SET THE TONE FOR THIS PHASE OF THE CAMPAIGN.

IT WAS KENTUCKY'S OPEN SENATE RACE THAT ATTRACTED MOST OF THE ATTENTION.

THREE VERY DIFFERENT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES TOOK THE STAGE.

BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THEM, THOUGH, I WANT TO MAKE NOTE OR ASK THE QUESTION, McKENNA, ASHLI WATTS WHO WAS THE BIG WINNER IN HER JOB OF EMCEEING THE FIRST WOMAN.

>> SHE DID HAVE WINS BEING THE EMCEE OF FANCY FARM IS A UNIQUE POSITION BECAUSE YOU SPEAK THROUGHOUT THE EVENT THE CROWD WILL SEE YOU MULTIPLE TIMES AND SHE EARNED LAUGHS THROUGHOUT THE EVENT ON THE FLY.

BUT HER SPEECH AT THE BEGINNING DEFINITELY DID EARN LAUGHS.

SHE HAD QUIPS SHE WAS THE FANCY FARM'S FIRST D.E.I.

HIRE AND SHE THANKED ALL THE MEN WHO GAVE HER ADVICE TO PREPARE FOR THE EVENT AS WELL.

>> Bill: AND SHE LET IT CUT BOTH WAYS.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

SENATE CANDIDATES DANIEL CAMERON, ANDY BARR AND NATE MORRIS SPOKE TO THE CROWD.

>> ANDY BARR WANTS YOU TO THINK HE IS AMERICA FIRST BUT IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE WHEN HE VOTED WITH NANCY PELOSI 1200 TIMES.

MY OPPONENTS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL, I WROTE IT AND HELPED TO PASS IT.

[CHEERING].

>> IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW ANDY BARR OR DANIEL CAMERON ARE GOING TO ACT IN THE U.S. SENATE LOOK O. SATANDAS?E ATO DAC SVI?ORIDHEOMO WTHECA T D >> THEY CAME TO DO WHAT THEY CAME TO DO, I THINK.

THEY HAD THEIR TALKING POINTS THAT THEY FOCUSED ON.

WE SAW A FEW OF THEM.

THEY REALLY EMPHASIZED THEIR LOYALTY TO TRUMP SAID THEY WILL SUPPORT HIM AND THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA AS THEY CALL IT.

AND THEN ALSO YOU SAW IT A LITTLE BIT FROM NATE MORRIS THERE HE WAS THERE TO ATTACK HIS OPPONENTS.

HE IS THE AT LEAST PAINTING HIMSELF AS THE OUTSIDER IN THE RACE A NEWCOMER TO POLITICS AND HE WAS REALLY TRYING TO PIN THEM TO OLD GUARD, I SUPPORT IN THIS CASE, MITCH McCONNELL.

AND HE CERTAINLY RAGGED ON MITCH McCONNELL QUITE A BIT.

A LOT OF JOKES WERE AIMED AT HIM AND HIS OPPONENTS' CONNECTION.

>> Bill: McCONNELL LEFT THE STAGE BY THE TIME THE CRITICISM STARTED RIDGING.

McKENNA, MORRIS HAS CRITICIZED McCONNELL A LOT AND UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT THAT.

AND PREFANCY FARM EVENT WHERE McCONNELL'S YEARS OF SERVICE WERE BEING NOTED AND BARR AND CAMERON STOOD WHILE MORRIS DID NOT.

>> RIGHT.

AND SINCE HE'S LAUNCHED THIS CAMPAIGN, MORRIS HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF MITCH McCONNELL.

I BELIEVE THE PHRASE HE USED ON THIS STAGE AT THE PICNIC WAS HE WAS HERE TO TRASH MITCH McCONNELL'S LEGACY.

AND YOU KNOW THIS EVENT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE IS THE AFTERNOON OF SPEECHES AS WELL BUT AS YOU ELUDED TO THE EVENTS WHERE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES GET TO TALK TO REPUBLICAN VOTERS AND MAKE PITCHES TO THEM AS WELL LEADING UP TO THE EVENT.

THIS WEEKEND WAS VERY CRITICAL FOR THE MORRIS CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THIS IS A CHANCE FOR HIM TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN KENTUCKY.

BECAUSE HE HASN'T RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE THIS IS A CHANCE TO MAKE HIS NAME KNOWN WITH PARTY ACTIVISTS AND PARTY OFFICIALS AS WELL.

AND MAYBE GOING AFTER MITCH McCONNELL IS A BIT OF A RISK.

I THINK HE DID WIN SOME SUPPORTERS BUT I ALSO HE NOTED HIMSELF HE WAS MAKING PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE ROOM TALKING ABOUT THIS.

>> Bill: YOU WROTE ABOUT McCONNELL'S LEGACY BEING UNDER ATTACK AND HE DID AN APPEARANCE THURSDAY IN LOUISVILLE WHERE HE TALKS ABOUT HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE YEARS.

SO THERE'S THAT GOING ON AS WELL.

>> YEAH, HE HAS BEEN DOING THAT FOR A WHILE.

HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO CRAFT HIS LEGACY AS HE STEPS DOWN.

HE HAS HAD A LONGTIME IN OFFICE.

A LONG CAREER TO TALK ABOUT.

AND YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S HE'S IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HE'S FALLEN OUT WITH HIS PARTY ON CERTAIN THINGS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THIS APPROVAL RATINGS I WAS LOOKING AT MORNING CONSULT THE OTHER DAY FOR THIS STORY, AND I MEAN HE'S HAD THE WORST APPROVAL RATINGS IN THE COUNTRY FOR A SENATOR IN THEIR STATE.

AND YOU CAN TRACK THAT WITH CONFLICTS WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT MORRIS IS COMING FROM.

HE IS TRYING TO LATCH ON TO THE PEOPLE DISSATISFIED WITH McCONNELL AND BREAKS FROM TRUMP.

AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS TALKING TO PARTY INSIDERS TO PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY VOTED FOR McCONNELL LAONIP WH MONLL 40 YEARS, ANDALE YOCA SOW MONLLOUARAEPLIN AEMRA ARHI MSA AONPLICSO TNK HE RBEOME LI H McCONNELL HAS BEEN ACTING RECENTLY EITHER.

>> Bill: IS THE TONE SET FOR THE SENATE RACE WITH WHAT HAPPENED AT FANCY FARM IN THE EARLY ADS OUT THERE?

>> WELL, YEAH, I THINK THE TONE IS BECOMING SET.

BUT I THINK TALKING ABOUT NATE MORRIS SPECIFICALLY, I THINK HE'S RUNNING A RISK PERSONALLY.

AS AN OBSERVER RUNNING A RISK TRASHING McCONNELL LIKE HE IS THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWE THEIR CAREERS HE DID BUILD THE PARTY.

AND PEOPLE RESPECT LOYALTY.

THERE'S THAT HUMAN CONDITION THAT IS NOT BEING TAKEN INTO EFFECT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL, TOO.

AND THE OTHER THING, TOO, IS LOCAL DEMOCRATIC CONSULTANT TOLD ME AS THESE PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING FOR THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT THAT TRUMP IS STILL POPULAR IN THE STATE BUT SOME OF HIS POLICIES ARE NOT.

SPECIFICALLY IMMIGRATION, AND THE CLAWING BACK OF GRANTS TO AGENCIES.

SO THAT LEAVES THE DEMOCRATS OPENING TO START PLAYING THIS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION.

SO THAT IS WHERE THE PARTIES HAVE TO CONSIDER THEIR NOMINEE AT THE OUTSET WHO IS GOING TO WIN THE GENERAL.

ONE THING TO TRASH McCONNELL FOR A PRIMARY.

AND TO GET TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT BUT IT IS ANOTHER TO GET DEMOCRATS TO COME OVER AND VOTE FOR YOU.

I CAN SAY I KNOW PLENTY OF DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED FOR MITCH McCONNELL OVER THE YEARS.

YOU KNOW IT IS A REAL RISK.

>> Bill: POLLING IS TO BE INSTRUCTIVE AS TO WHERE THE CANDIDATES ARE LIKELY TO GO WITH THE CAMPAIGNS.

>> AND THIS CONSULTANT WOULD NOT TELL ME WHAT RACE MY GUT SAYS IT IS A STATE RACE NOT CONGRESSIONAL.

BUT HE DID SHARE THAT LITTLE TIDBIT.

>> Bill: INTERESTING TO KNOW.

>> AND THE NUMBERS ARE 47% APPROVAL FOR TRUMP AND 42% DISAPPROVAL.

>> WE ARE A FEW DAYS OUT FROM FANCY FARM IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MORRIS HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE UP HIS MESSAGING.

BUT THE CAMPAIGN HAS NOT DONE THAT.

THEY AGAIN RENEWED THEIR CALL ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KENTUCKY TO RESCIND A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM THE SENATOR THAT HE IS SUPPOSED TO GET TOMORROW EVENING SATURDAY AT THE STATE-WIDE DINNER.

SO IT SEEMS THEY ARE WHILE IT MIGHT BE PERCEIVED AS RISKY AND THERE ARE RISKS THERE, THEY ARE STILL GOING AHEAD WITH THAT MESSAGING.

>> Bill: THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HEADQUARTERS IN FRANKFORT IS -- >> ANDY BESHEAR NOTED THAT.

>> AND WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT FUND RAISING.

MORRIS CAN SELF FUND BUT ANYBODY KNOWS THAT IF A PERSON GIVES A DOLLAR TO A CAMPAIGN, THEY ARE VOTING FOR YOU.

IT'S IN PEOPLE'S BEST INTEREST TO FUNDRAISE AND GET PEOPLE ONBOARD WITH YOUR CAMPAIGN INSTEAD OF SELF FUNDING LIKE THIS AND JUST BEING A MAVERICK.

>> Bill: INTERESTING TO SEE.

>> I COULD BE WRONG THE GUY WOULD WIN.

WE COULD BE CALLING HIM SENATOR MORRIS.

>> Bill: THERE WERE HINTS ABOUT THE 2027 GOVERNOR'S RACE.

CONGRESSMAN YAM JAMES OPENLY SAID IF HE RUNS HE EXPECTS TO FACE JACQUELINE COLEMAN AND SOME SUPPORTERS OF ROCKY ADKINS SAID MAYBE THAT IS CODE FOR COMER HOPING IT'S COLEMAN AND NOT ADKINS.

>> THESE COMMENTS WERE MADE IN THOSE PREEVENTS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FOR FANCY FARM WEEKEND.

IT IS A BIT LIKE THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

IT IS A DAY OF EVENTS.

BUT SO THAT WEEKEND WE HEARD FROM COMER HINTING AT THAT HE THOUGHT THAT JACQUELINE COLEMAN WOULD BE THE NOMINEE IN 27 FOR DEMOCRATS AND BEFORE THAT, JACQUELINE COLEMAN WAS AT A DEMOCRATIC DINNER SAYING MAYBE 27 RACES COULD BRING HER BACK TO THE FANCY FARM STAGE AS DEMOCRATS NOT GO LARGELY THIS YEAR.

SO IT'S INTERESTING.

DEFINITELY, KIND OF A SHADOW PRIMARY AS STEVEN VOSS WHO I TALKED TO FOR AN ARTICLE HE IS A PROFESSOR OF POLITICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

AND HE ARGUED THAT COMER DID NOT LOSE ANYTHING BY DOING THIS.

HE IS AUDITIONING AS SOMEBODY WHO CAN GO AFTER THE OTHER SIDE RATHER THAN ANOTHER PRIMARY CANDIDATE MAYBE.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO WATCH.

AND THESE ARE PROBABLY NAMES WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT FOR SOMETIME.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

THE RACE FOR CONGRESS IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY CONTINUES TO HEAT UP.

AND WE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

DEMOCRAT ZACK DEMBO A JAG OFFICER AND FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR DID AN INTERVIEW WITH ME AND HE MAKES THE CASE THAT THE SIXTH DISTRICT WOULD BE ONE TO WATCH.

HE EXPRESSED TO BE THAT MOST KENTUCKIANS DON'T SIT AROUND AND THINK ABOUT POLITICS ALL THE TIME PUT HE THINKS THERE ARE ISSUES THAT THE ARE GETTING ATTENTION.

>> I THINK HE IS RIGHT ON THAT.

IF YOU TALK TO THE AVERAGE YOUR NEIGHBORS THEY DON'T FOLLOW POLITICS LIKE WE DO.

IT IS EARLY, VERY, VERY EARLY.

BUT IT IS AN OPEN SEAT.

IT'S ONE TO WATCH.

ANY OPEN SEAT IS FAIR GAME FOR THE MOST PART.

AND ESPECIALLY THIS ONE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE CORE DEMOCRATIC VOTING BLOCK IN FAYETTE COUNTY THE LARGEST COUNTY IN THE DISTRICT.

AND A LOT OF RURAL REPUBLICANS IN THE OTHER COUNTIES AND SO THAT'S GOING TO -- COULD KEEP IT A TOSS UP.

EXCUSE ME.

THE GROUP VOTE FAIR A NONPARTISAN GROUP SAID 9% OF CONGRESSIONAL RACES SO FAR WILL >>il A A PENALACRE EXTRELYCOETIB Y.EIX A HEUMR OFDENDTSOW SO RHTOW TREREIXCAIDESYHE W. E STCTS 11%TEEPUICS.ANTHOTG RISN FATTCOTY H 2N TED SIXTH DISTRICT OF THE SIXTH DISTRICT ELECTORATE 21% OF THE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS ARE IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

THAT IS A LOT.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST BLOCK OF THE VOTERS THERE.

>> Bill: IT IS A TOUGH DISTRICT EVEN THOUGH IT'S URBAN AND YET IT IS ALSO AGRICULTURAL AND IT IS THE GROWING CITIES THAT SURROUND LEXINGTON.

IT'S AN INTERESTING PLACE TO RUN.

>> ANDY BARR RUNNING FOR SENATE WHY IT'S OPEN HE WAS ABLE TO FLIP IT.

IT WAS PURPLE WHEN HE RAN.

HE TURNED IT RED.

HE GETS AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF THE VOTES AND IT HAS NOT BEEN COMPETITIVE FOR A WHILE.

DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING TO MAKE A H IS AO FPP I BAU D IIS A BIG REPUBLICAN --TRTI I'M SORRY, FRANKLIN COUNTY IS A BIG DEMOCRATIC COUNTY.

AND THERE WAS ONE YEAR I LOOKED THESE NUMBERS UP I FORGET WHICH YEAR BUT ONE YEAR THAT JOSH HICKS, I THINK, POLLED MORE VOTES THAN BARR DID IN AN ELECTION.

I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND THE DATES.

BUT IT'S BEEN CLOSE FOR IN SOME CASES WHILE BARR HAS BEEN RUNNING.

>> Bill: McKENNA, YOU HAVE LOOKED INTO THE FACT THAT BARR IS A FACTOR IN HIS SUCCESSOR?

>> DEFINITELY.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS RACE MORE INTERESTING IS THAT HE IS ACTIVELY RUNNING A CAMPAIGN AS WELL.

IN A DIFFERENT RACE.

BUT HE MADE THE ARGUMENT AT FANCY FARM AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS RACE HE CALLED IT A PURPLE DISTRICT HIMSELF AND ARGUED HE IS THE BEST PERSON TO BE THE REPUBLICAN SENATE NOMINEE BECAUSE HE CAN BE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET HEADING INTO 26 AND BRING OUT SOME OF HIS STEADY REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT TO KEEP THAT DISTRICT RED.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

OTHER NEWS OF THE WEEK GOVERNOR BESHEAR ANNOUNCED THAT KENTUCKY IS JOINING A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR CLAWING BACK MONEY FOR EV STATIONS.

KENTUCKY WAS ALLOCATED $70 MILLION FOR EV CHARGING STAYINGS AND THE STATE IS OWED MORE THAN 32 MILLION.

>> YEAH, THE SAME ARGUMENT THAT BESHEAR AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC STATES HAVE MADE IN OTHER CASES IN OTHER CLAW BOOKS.

EDUCATION GRANT FUNDING THAT THEY GOT THE CLAW BOOKS REVERSED.

HEALTH GRANTS THAT GOT REVERSED.

THIS IS A TREND OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RIGHT?

CLAWING BACK APPROPRIATED FUNDS AND THIS IS NOT SURPRISING ONE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN CLEAR ABOUT HOW HE FEELS ABOUT THIS TRANSITION TO EV'S AND THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN THAT WHICH HE SAYS SHOULD NOT EXIST.

I THINK THIS IS NOT A SURPRISING ONE AND IT'S ALSO NOT SURPRISING THAT BESHEAR IS GETTING INVOLVED AND OTHER STATES WILL FIGHT TO MAINTAIN THE FUNDING.

>> Bill: AND A SUPREME COURT CASE INVOLVING THE JEFER JEFER THE SUPREME COURT JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THE SUPREME COURT HEARD ORAL ARGUMENTS.

>> THE COURT SAYS NO THIS IS SPECIAL LEGISLATION THERE IS A LOT OF LAWS IMPERILLED THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED TO BENEFIT CONSOLIDATED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT THE ARE UNIQUE TO THEM.

THEY ARE CLASS OF ONE LAWS AND THEY ARE OPEN IN THE VERY SAME WAY THAT SENATE BILL 1 IS OPEN.

>> THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL NOT BE HANDCUFFED AND THE WORLD IS DEAR SATBI 1OEND IF THE CRT TA O TT.IV U URAS HRDRARGENE INHI CE.

THEY HEARD ORAL AUGUSTERMENTS LAST AUGUST AND RENDERED A DECISION IN DECEMBER 4-3 THAT UPHELD THE 2022 LAW AT PLAY HERE THAT WAS BEFORE CHIEF JUSTICE LEFT THE COURT SO THEY WANTED TO GET THAT DECISION IN.

AND ONCE PAMELA GOODWINE JOINED THE COURT THIS YEAR THERE WAS A NEW 4-3 DECISION TO HEAR THE CASE.

SO THAT PREVIOUS DECISION IS NO LONGER APPLICABLE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO BE DECIDED FROM THESE PROCEEDINGS THIS WEEK.

>> Bill: WHAT ARE THE STAKES HERE?

>> THIS CASE IS OVER SB1 WHICH TRIED TO LIMIT THE POWERS OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION IN FAVOR OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

AND THE WAY THEY DID THAT IS THIS CLASS OF ONE.

JEFFERSON COUNTY IS ITS OWN CLASS AS IS LEXINGTON.

SO THEY TRIED TO MAKE LAWS SPECIFIC TO JEFFERSON COUNTY AND BASICALLY WHAT JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION IS ARGUING THEY CANNOT DO THAT.

NO LOCAL OR SPECIAL LAWS ON A SPECIFIC 29 CATEGORIES ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES IS MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOLS.

SO IT'S LIKE MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOLS SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE LOCALS.

WHAT THE STATE IS ARGUING THIS IS ITS OWN CLASS WE ARE ALLOWED TO LEGISLATE ON CLASSES.

IT'S THIS ARGUMENT THAT IT COULD ENDANGER SOME LAWS AND OTHERS SAY IT MIGHT NOT.

BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THE COURT RULES CAN THEY HAVE THE CLASS OF ONE.

>> Bill: ANOTHER ONE TO WATCH.

THANK YOU.

AND SALLY BINGHAM OF THE LOUISVILLE BINGHAM FAMILY HAS DIED.

WE HAVE THIS INFORMATION THE BINGHAM'S OWNED THE COURIER-JOURNAL FOR 70 YEARS BEFORE SELL TO GO IN 1986 WITH WHAS-TV IN LOUISVILLE AND THE TIMES AND A PRINTING COMPANY.

SHE WROTE A BOOK IN 1989 AND MOVED TO NEW MEXICO AND REMAINED ACTIVE CHAMPIONING CLAUSES.

ATS OMNTNENCK WAS 8 HA AOOEE AAD